The Dean Organic Fund is seeking fresh applications for interest-free, unsecured loans of up to £25,000.
The fund was established in 2011 with a bequest by Jennie Bone to support organic or agroecological farming practices.
Last year, a range of companies benefited from the fund, including Seaview Farms in Northern Ireland.
“They are new entrant tenants managing a large area of priority habitat, who run a regenerative grazing enterprise,” explains Chris Jones, adviser to the Dean Organic Fund.
“The Fund enabled the purchase of specialist native cattle at a key moment for their business, and allowed them to move forward without being limited by cash flow.”
The fund currently supports 22 businesses across the UK, including farms in the Scottish Highlands and Cornwall.
“It has supported a wide range of transformational projects in the past year, including grain bi-cropping processing facilities, mobile hen houses, native grazing livestock, and market garden expansion,” says Chris.
Applications are welcome from businesses certified as organic, in conversion or which are using practices closely aligned with the principles of organic and agroecological farming.
“After a successful 2025, we are looking to extend the reach of this legacy and work with more growers and farmers,” says Chris.
“The door is open to new applications with loans available on an unsecured and interest-free basis, up to £25,000.”